By Blessing 
Michael Gallup Reignites His Career, Joins NFC East Rival After Cowboys Exit
Despite the noise from critics and doubters, the Dallas Cowboys enter the offseason with a roster that’s stronger than it may appear on the surface.
On the defensive side, there’s a solid sense of balance now. The team bolstered its linebacker group by bringing in Kenneth Murray and Jack Sanborn, who will compete alongside second-year talent Marist Liufau for the starting off-ball linebacker positions. With that added depth, the defense looks well-rounded.
Offensively, the Cowboys still have a couple of pieces to figure out. The most glaring need is at running back, but that’s expected to be addressed early in the upcoming NFL Draft. Fortunately for Dallas, this year’s running back class is unusually rich in talent. One lingering issue, however, is the absence of a true vertical deep threat—something the team has lacked ever since parting ways with Michael Gallup.
Gallup’s Departure Left a Void in Dallas
The Cowboys released Gallup last offseason after injuries had taken a serious toll on his once-promising career. Once viewed as a rising star, Gallup had shown real promise in his early seasons, particularly years two through four. Unfortunately, a torn ACL at the end of the 2021 season marked the beginning of a difficult stretch. He never quite looked the same after that.
In the two seasons that followed, Gallup failed to reach even 500 receiving yards—logging just 424 yards in 2022 and 418 in 2023. Ultimately, Dallas made the tough decision to move on from him in March of last year.
Ironically, what the Cowboys could really use right now is someone exactly like Gallup—a reliable vertical threat to take some pressure off CeeDee Lamb, the team’s All-Pro centerpiece. Beyond Lamb, Dallas’ receiving corps lacks the firepower fans have come to expect.
From Retirement to a Fresh Start in Washington
Gallup’s journey took an unexpected turn last summer when he announced his retirement from the NFL after a brief and uneventful stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. At the time, it seemed like the injuries and mental wear of the past few years had caught up with him.
But less than a year later, Gallup is staging a surprising comeback—this time with the Washington Commanders, one of Dallas’ biggest rivals in the NFC East.
During a recent media call, Gallup opened up about what led to his decision to walk away from the game—and why he’s now ready to return.
“The way I was let go from being in some place for so long and then jumping to a whole other team and not being able to process it,” Gallup shared. “I never went through that before. It was fast for me and I wasn’t there yet.”
The emotional toll of changing teams and trying to adapt without proper time to heal clearly weighed heavily on him. But now, he says he’s in a much better headspace—and, more importantly, still has a passion for football.
“There’s a lot of meat on that bone,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of fire up in me.”
What Gallup Brings to Washington’s Offense
The Commanders have been busy reshaping their offense this offseason, and Gallup is just the latest addition. Earlier this month, Washington also made headlines by acquiring Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
Now, the Commanders boast a receiving trio that could quietly become one of the more dynamic in the league. With Terry McLaurin holding down the No. 1 role, Samuel providing versatility and elite yards-after-catch ability, and Gallup stretching the field vertically, there’s real potential here.
Each receiver brings something different to the table—McLaurin is a steady, reliable route-runner and possession target, Samuel is a creative offensive weapon, and Gallup offers that vertical element that forces defenses to stay honest.
For a team that entered the offseason with questions about their wide receiver depth, the Commanders now appear to have a well-balanced and potentially explosive group.
Can Gallup Recapture His Old Form?
That’s the big question. If Gallup can tap into the player he was before injuries began to pile up, he could end up being one of the sneakiest offseason signings in the league. At just 28 years old, it’s not unreasonable to think he still has something left to offer.
And if there’s one thing he’s made clear, it’s that he’s not ready to fade quietly into the background.
Now, with a fresh start in Washington and a chip on his shoulder, Michael Gallup has one more chance to show the NFL that his story isn’t finished just yet.